SUEK battles COVID-19 in Krasnoyarsk

SUEK's production facilities in Krasnoyarsk region are continuous-cycle industrial facilities. Therefore, their operation does not stop even during a pandemic: coal mine workers are engaged in a strategic mission of providing fuel to thermal power plants of the city of Krasnoyarsk and neighbouring regions. In this situation, the company strives not only to fulfil its obligations reliably to local residents, but also to safeguard the health of employees.

In March, SUEK adopted an all-round COVID-19 prevention programme for all facilities. It includes mandatory mask wearing and obligatory thermometry before work shifts and entering office buildings. For this, up-to-date electronic thermographic cameras are installed at checkpoints. In case of detecting people with a body temperature above 37° and symptoms of the disease, special 'filtering rooms' are arranged at the units, where those with the above symptoms can wait for health workers without contacting other people. Paying special attention to patients with acute respiratory viral infections and pneumonia, doctors from the departmental medical facility monitor the health of employees on an ongoing basis.

Disinfectants are widely used, both in office buildings and in remote workplaces. For example, in bucket-wheel excavator cabs, conditions have been created for regular hand sanitation. Once every 3 - 4 shifts, employees receive clean workwear. Twice a day, production sites and office premises are disinfected, in addition to receiving regular ventilation and having the use of bactericidal lamps. Corporate transport is also subject to special treatment. In the morning and evening, mine workers spray the area around the office buildings with disinfectant solutions, and once a week they disinfect city streets, pavements and public transport stops.

At all high-traffic facilities, including job assignment offices and catering points, floor markings help maintain social distance. In the canteen, the food serving area is equipped with a special protective screen.

The most important step in preventing the spread of COVID-19 within work teams is testing for coronavirus. All employees returning from business trips and those who have contacted people with diagnosed COVID-19 are subject to medical check-ups. According to medical indications, not all citizens are entitled to be tested in hospitals. However, in order to protect employees from infection, SUEK offers such tests in a licensed Krasnoyarsk laboratory free of charge. Since the end of April, more than 40 tests have been conducted, all with a negative result.

"The health of employees has always been a priority for SUEK along with performance indicators. Today, due to the challenging epidemiological situation in the country and in the world, this aspect has come to the forefront. We have allocated all necessary resources for the prevention of COVID-19. It should be noted that we are successfully fighting this infection," said Andrey Fedorov, General Director of SUEK-Krasnoyarsk.

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